Blog #7- A Year in Review

Thinking back to the beginning of the year, we have accomplished and learned some amazing things in this course. This year in English, my favourite part by far would have to be the amazing movies that we watched. Not only were they interesting to watch with the phenomenal acting but they also taught us many valuable lessons that we could not have otherwise learnt on our own. I would have to say that my favourite movie was V for Vendetta. With the intriguing story line and V’s ability to challenge authority to achieve his ideal, it kept the audience on the edge of their seats. Definitely a movie that you have to watch more than once. However, there were some things that I did not enjoy- especially the seven essays we had to write based on these movies. At the best of times it was challenging and a real grind. While it cannot be avoided, I am desperately waiting until the day when I no longer have to write them.  I thoroughly enjoyed the Poetry Anthology project as it was an opportunity to express our creative side which often doesn’t happen in high school as our creativity starts to fade and be begin to become one in the same. The assembling of my project was almost painful but worth it. I found it very interesting looking at everyone’s presentation afterword and seeing a different side of my classmates that we don’t get to see. I also enjoyed most of the novels we read this year, and all were very appealing except the Road; it gave me the chills and was almost too realistic for my liking. Shakespeare was surprisingly less painful than expected and I actually enjoyed a Midnights Summer’s Dream. It was witty and really pulled the reader in. Looking back at this past year, I definitely learned some very valuable lessons and skills that will stay with me for a very long time.

You could say I’m very glad this is our last blog of my grade eleven career!

Blog #6- Point du Hoc

This past spring break, I had the privilege to travel with ITS to Europe. Overall, this was one of my favorite spring breaks I have ever had. Perhaps one of  my favorite experiences of this trip would have to be seeing the beaches of the D-Day invasion. It was inspiring to see how  how Canada was able to conquer such a landscape. Definitely a defining moment for Canada. In particular, I found the American beaches (Utah and Omaha) especially interesting. Our guide which we had took us through the American cemetery and offered unbelievable facts. The 9,000 headstones seemed to go on forever and was almost overwhelming. Afterwards we then took the bus to Point du Hoc which was by far the most interesting part even though it was pouring rain and windy. Apparently, a few hours prior to the D-Day invasion, the American Rangers were sent to one of the beaches with a large protruding bluff. Their task? To scale the daunting 100 foot cliff and take out the huge German artillery which could destroy the large majority of the D-Day landing crafts which were scheduled to land in the following hours. So, in the early morning the rangers landed on the beaches and shot rocket-propelled grappling hooks into the cliff and began their accent up rope ladders which were attached to the hooks. The Germans were not expecting this and were overwhelmed when one hundred American soldiers jumped over the edge of the cliff causing them to retreat and hide inside the case mates. The Americans were told to radio the bomb squad which had orders to bomb the tank if the Rangers attempt had been unsuccessful. To their surprise, the radios no longer worked as they had became waterlogged. In a frantic attempt to warn the bombers not to attack, they took an American flag and hung it off the side of the cliff. What was most shocking to me was that not only did these soldiers climb up a 100 foot cliff on a rope ladder but they successfully took out the heavy German artillery and their signal actually worked. I had no idea that the Rangers played such an large role in making the D-Day invasions a success. Standing on top of Point du Hoc was one of the most memorable moments and for sure one of my favorite experiences this past spring break. 

Taken by Rachel McDougall

New Year's Resolutions

 “New Year New Me” is a phrase that is commonly used during the first couple of weeks of the New Year. However, is this true? Many people try to instantly change the way they do things such as becoming healthier, saving money and being kinder by setting Resolutions. The thing that many people forget is that nothing changes unless you do and often people’s actions aren't constant with their words which results in the failure of their resolutions. I personally think New Year’s Resolutions are not as important as personal goals. Every year, people resolve to “work out more”, “eat better”, “be more honest”, “save money” and so on. Usually, the majority of people have already broken them by the end of January. People who are trying to make changes in their life shouldn't need a new year to do so. At any point in time, you should be able to change your actions to obtain the result you desire such as working out more consistently, or choosing not to buy new clothes. This is why personal goals on the other hand are very important and more effective then resolutions. These goals are something that should be achievable and measurable within a few months. Once individuals have reached their goal, they feel more motivated to continue to reach their next goal, opposed to New Year’s resolutions which they forget about shortly after. Having many smaller personal goals through the year ensures personal growth. At the end of the year, instead of feeling guilty that you didn't follow through with your resolutions, you will be able to see what you achieved and how much you changed by looking at your goals. The start of a new calendar year isn't a reason to lie to yourself by listing resolutions that you will not complete. Therefore it is important to set measurable goals that will help you achieve change and personal growth.